ADDeRabbi brings out an important lesson about Rosh Hashanah and the judgment of G-d during this time:

As my last few posts have reflected, the judgment of Rosh Hashana stems from a comparison of what we ARE to what we OUGHT TO BE. We look at ourselves, as it were, from G-d’s perspective, and as part of a total picture. Part of that is a re-evaluation of priorities in life....

One may neglect all other concerns and pursue livelihood at the expense of all else. Sure, it’ll get him more money, but the price will be paid elsewhere – not that ch”v he’ll have extra medical bills or something, but in one of the other important areas of life, be it family, ethics, or personal growth. Unfortunately, the old adage that ‘cheaters never prosper’ is simply untrue. Cheaters prosper. But is that prosperity worth the price?

Along the same vein, Rabbi Twerski talks about the place of physical delight in our lives, relating a story from the Baal Shem Tov:

The Baal Shem Tov was asked, inasmuch as Shabbos and Yom Tov should be days of spiritual rather than physical delight, why do we have so many delicious foods? Would it not be more appropriate to eat simple foods and dedicate the entire day to spiritual pursuits? The Baal Shem Tov answered with a parable.

A prince once committed an offense for which he was banished from the royal palace and exiled to a distant village in the kingdom, where he lived a very austere life. After a lengthy period of time, he received a message from his father that he was pardoned and could return home. This news made him so happy that he could not contain him self from singing and dancing. However, if he were suddenly to sing and dance, the townsfolk would think he had gone mad. He, therefore, gathered some of the townsfolk together for a party, and gave them lavish food and drink. Well satiated with food and drink, they arose to sing and dance, and the prince joined them. The townsfolk were dancing because they were merry with food and drink, whereas the prince danced because he was returning to the royal palace.

“A person,” the Baal Shem Tov said, “is a composite being, comprised of a physical body and a spiritual neshama. On Shabbos and Yom Tov, the neshama wishes to engage in prayer and Torah study to bring it in closer contact with G-d. However, the body does not appreciate this, and is a barrier to spirituality. We, therefore, provide the body with things it can enjoy, so that it, too, will be happy, and will not stand in the way of the neshama’s quest for and celebration of spiritual delight.”

Earthly goods enjoyed in this way give primacy to the spirit. Indulging in pleasure, even permissible and “kosher” pleasure as an end in itself, is a corruption of Yiddishkeit.

As my rabbi and rebbitzin have said many times, our human appetities are very strong. They push us to overindulge, to focus on one important area of life and not on the others, or even to focus on areas that are not important at all. These two teachings are important lessons that I really need to be reminded of. May we all have the spiritual fortitude and the wisdom to watch out lives carefully for imbalance and to adjust that imbalance at the moment that we see it.

Labels: Judaism